New Data Virus "Flame" Hits Middle East
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A printed copy of an unsuccessful beta version of a virus.(Creative Commons)
According to USA Today, Iran and other Middle East countries have become exposed to a virus of "unprecedented" size and complexity, with the ability to eavesdrop on computer users and their co-workers. The virus' versatility allows it to grab information from close-range cell phones to spy on the all aspects of a user's activity.
Iran faced the bulk of the digital compromise, sparking suspicion that Israel was behind the virus. CBS News reports Israel didn't dispel the rumors when Vice Premier Moshe Yaalon declared anyone who sees Iran as a threat is "likely to take various steps, including these, to hobble it." Yaalon continued to boast about Israel's high technology and tools capable of "all sorts of opportunities for us."
In response to the virus, the United Nations issued a warning about the virus, calling it the most serious cyber warning ever put out, said Reuters. The warning will tell member nations that Flame is considered an espionage tool targeted to attack critical infrastructure.
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Only four countries had the technical know-how to develop the Flame virus: "Israel, the U.S., China and Russia."
Since the virus was obviously intended for Iran, we can eliminate its friends China and Russia.
This leaves only Israel and us.
Having thoroughly demonized Iran, anything we do to it has become fair game.
But there is nothing fair or right about taking another country's data. Certainly we would not want China or Russia taking our data and spreading it to 80 separate servers.
As a leader of the world community aspiring for governance through universal fairness, we can no longer afford to follow the beaten path of expediency chosen by Israel. Doing so will not only deprive us of our moral authority, but will also squander our unique opportunity to fashion a more just and fair world.